By Christina Vortia
Hypelit.com
April 2nd, 2018
I
truly appreciated this stylistically illustrated graphic novelette. I
appreciated that I was able to learn about a historical figure and a
pivotal moment in black history that I knew nothing about. This 48 page
graphic biography packs a wealth of information that carries heavy
themes of black empowerment, afro-caribbean literary history, and jazz
history. I had never heard of CLR James before reading this novelette, I
have since sought out all of the author’s work, and am working to
correct this ignorance.
CLR James, born in 1901, came of age in
the British governance of Trinidad. Though racism and colorism were a
fixture of James’, he rebelled against the middle class respectability
politics of his parents and embraced “the culture and passions of the
colonial underclass, Carnival and cricket”. He wholly rejected the idea
that blacks were inferior to whites, and used his love of literature to
write a different narrative than the one given to him. Blending his
knowledge of European literature with his deep admiration of working
class Trinidad, James was able to tell distinct stories in a way that
hadn’t been seen before. His classic Minty Alley is a fixture in
Caribbean literary canon.
The artwork, black and white line
drawings, convey the story well, even if at times it is hard to
distinguish who is who. The illustrations provide enough action and
understanding to add a deeper layer of meaning that coincides with
the text. This book is a wonderful introduction to an great literary
hero.
Recommendation: Read it! This is a great addition to any collection.
Audience: Everyone
*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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